Olivia Ann Greyson is a Charmer, a Dhampir with the power to lure the supernatural world’s most dangerous of creatures – and she’s in an impossible situation. She must leave behind Caleb Wolfe, the strong, protective vampire she has fallen madly in love with, in order to learn how to protect herself from the vampires, shifters and demons that will be drawn to her for the rest of her life.

Human Guardian, Alec Lambert, has been assigned to see to Olivia’s training by the organization he belongs to, which is known simply as The Brethren. He takes Olivia to the group’s stronghold in the mountainous regions of Alberta, Canada, where she discovers the answers to her family’s painful past and the extent to which those hunting her will go to capture her. But she also uncovers many secrets and even more questions about this mysterious group she has trusted to protect her – secrets that will have her fighting to get back to the man she left behind.

. . . but will it be too late?

**A review copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

She-Wolf Review

THE CHARMED by Christine Wenrick is a paranormal romance that centers around Olivia Greyson, a graduate student studying music who recently lost her parents in a terrible accident. During a fantastic opening scene in which a train crash brings her face to face with a man from her past, Caleb Wolfe, Olivia is forced to recognize the supernatural world she never knew existed. Caleb, a vampire, takes her to the home he shares with his coven, Jax and Gemma, and Olivia soon discovers that she is not who or what she thought she was. As she and Caleb grow closer, the powers that be, including Olivia’s own supernatural powers, threaten to tear them apart.

Twilight comparisons abound while reading THE CHARMED. From the setting of Washington state to the welcoming family of vampires, from the brooding vampire hero to the almost Alice-like character that is Gemma May, it was hard to read this book and not make comparisons. Perhaps the biggest similarity was the YA feel that is intentional in Twilight but not so intentional in THE CHARMED. For me, this was the biggest problem I had with the book. Olivia is 26 but in every action, thought, and feeling, she seems much younger. Olivia emotes with a lot of exclamations! She keeps things from the people she supposedly loves and cares for because she wants to live in a bubble for a few days, regardless of the fact that her admission literally brings danger to their doorstep. I just couldn’t find this redeemable, likeable, or even understandable in a mature woman. Finally, even the language she uses when referring to Caleb, her “angel”, her “love”, her “blue eyed warrior”, felt too melodramatic. And Caleb’s constant reference to her as his “sweet girl” further infantilized Olivia in my mind.

The romance between Caleb and Olivia is the central storyline of the book. Their connection is instant. Too quick for me. Olivia just experienced a tragic accident in which she witnessed her best friend, whom she has known since she was a child, being brutally murdered in front of her. When Olivia is rescued by Caleb and taken to his home, she recuperates and heals with Caleb’s help. She shows momentary sadness for the loss of her friend, but then, all too suddenly, is completely focused on Caleb and her new feelings. This was a bit of a turnoff for me. I would have liked to see some real struggle, some real fight in dealing with the loss of her friend (plus parents she lost six months prior to the train crash) while simultaneously trying to understand her feelings for Caleb. It was almost as if this hot, brooding vampire supplanted everything else and her world instantly becomes Caleb. The bones of the idea were good – she’s lost everything and everyone, it’s understandable she would cling to Caleb and his family. However, I wanted to feel something more than insta-lust/love, something profound. Amazing sex on a piano isn’t enough (it doesn’t hurt though).

Also, Olivia feels too much like a victim needing to be rescued. I hope this changes over the development of the trilogy. I appreciate that she isn’t the typical kickass heroine who, over the course of five pages, is suddenly able to take down 20 vampires singlehandedly along with a shot of whiskey. But I do want to see Olivia become more independent. We all like an alpha male but it’s more compelling when he’s paired with a real partner, someone who doesn’t always need the protection but appreciates it.

Caleb is an interesting character, tormented by what he’s become and struggling to maintain some humanity. I like him but he’s not given much to do but growl and protect Olivia. Jax and Gemma are also an interesting pair and I hope they have some sort of conclusion to what looks to be something romantic brewing between them. New characters are introduced later in the book, but I think their roles will figure more prominently in the second book in the trilogy.

THE CHARMED has received outstanding reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and from fellow bloggers I trust so I think my take on this book is really a matter of personal preference. I like some of the ideas here and there is a compelling plot twist at the end of the book that has you wondering what the future holds for Caleb and Olivia, but it just wasn’t enough for me. I actually read the follow-up, THE CHARMED SOULS, just to see if I would have a different reaction. Unfortunately, I felt the same way about book two.

2 HOWLS – OK. Not great & not a strong recommendation.

About the Author

Christine is a graduate of Washington State University where she received a BA in Interior Design. And true to form of using mostly her ‘right brain’, she splits her time between her commercial design career and her imaginary world of writing. She lives in the scenic Pacific Northwest where she enjoys hiking, camping and photographing many of the wonderful places that served as inspiration for her Charmed Trilogy. Her biggest reward in life is any given day when one of her books connects with a reader because she herself is such a lover of reading. Some of her favorite authors include Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, and Kimberly Derting.

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